Mercredi

So today was good. I hope to keep this short bc I need to go to bed since I have to wake up at 6:30 tomorrow uhg. We will see if this will happen. Anyway… today was Wednesday, which means no school. Lucky for me. So I had the kids all by myself today, and I think I did pretty damn well.

I woke up around 9am and saw the dad for bit before he left for Paris (he still isn’t back and it is 10pm). I asked him what I should make for lunch and dinner because I was nervous about that. He then said when I ran to ask the boy to ride his bike with me. So when the boy woke up, I asked him, but he said no. I didn’t expect him to say yes because he just woke up, but I didn’t want to wait until the afternoon to run because if I wait, then I won’t do it. So I ran for 40 minutes or so, idk if I am allowed to leave him alone that long (oops).

I then showered and got ready to pick up the girl from her friends. The boy stayed behind (I asked if I could do this). I brought my Navigo letter with me in hopes of the girl knowing where la poste was too. I went to pick up the girl, and she asked if she could stay longer. Idk if I can make those decisions, so I called the dad, and he said no. So I left with the girl, and she eventually told me where la poste was because she didn’t really know, but the effing place was closed for a lunch break.

So we headed back, and I tackled lunch. The dad told me what to make, so I made elbow macaroni and scrambled eggs. I knew how to make the eggs! So lunch wasn’t so hard. They ate most of it, which was good. It was awkward during lunch because I had to force conversation. Usually I sit there and don’t say much because they all speak French around me and it is overwhelming.

Oh I forgot to mention, I also started laundry for the day (how exciting—I am really an au pair).

Then I let the kids play Wii (don’t think this is allowed but whatever), and I laid out in the sun for 30 minutes reading because it was gorgeous outside, and I don’t wanna lose my tan haha. I knew this would be the only time for myself today, so I was selfish thank you very much.

I then forced the kids to do my (and the dad’s) errands with me. We headed to la poste, and I mailed the letter for one euro! Then went to the super marché, and I bought a few things. I timed it perfectly because the doors opened right when we walked up (I didn’t even know the place would be closed—so French, no 24/7 convenience here). Then we went to the crèmerie, and I bought three liters of (real) milk. We headed home, and I don’t even remember what we did, but an hour later, we drank chocolate milk (and I dipped bread in it- yum).

We rode bikes after for a bit. The kids started bickering and hitting each other a lot. I have no idea how to handle them. They aren’t bad per se, but they annoy each other. I need to put my foot down, but idk how. All I can do is say stop and things like that, but if what I say is too complicated then it goes over their head. It is annoying having to phrase things in the simplest English I can—makes it hard to yell at them haha.

We got bike from bikes and played Sorry and some monkey themed board game. The boy had this cool electronic hand (from the Adams family) that we used to choose the game we played. We each picked 2 games and placed them in the circle and put the hand in the middle to choose. Pretty cool haha.

We played the games, the kids fought, I played Pick up Sticks with the girl, but I was getting antsy bc I needed to start dinner bc they HAVE to eat by 7:30pm on school nights. She eventually let me go bc she knew I needed to cook.

So I proceeded to make a chicken, mushroom, crème fraiche dish with rice and green beans. The timing is so hard… I had to put aluminum foil over everything to keep it warm, but the food turned out well. The mom complimented me! I thought it tasted good too. Really… crème fraiche makes everything taste good.

After dinner, I messed with the drying racks of laundry for a bit to look useful. I wanted to iron, but the clothes were still damp, so I just went to my room because they were talking French, and I was def not a part of the conversation. I think the boy was using me for his homework though because he asked the mom to spell my name.

Then I had a nice English convo with the mom, which started because of train schedule conflicts, but turned into a real convo, which was nice. I feel guilty speaking English with her, but I don’t think she minds. She took the opportunity to ask if everything was fine to which I said yes. I wanted to bring up the Navigo pass, but she asked me before if the dad bought my pass for the week (he hasn’t since he was in Paris today), but this makes me think I won’t have to pay for trains anymore. Idk how tomorrow will work when I go to Paris… I hate asking for money, but I guess I will have to.

 Other than that I don’t have complaints. I feel like today was a day to put me to the test, and I passed. I got everything done! The mom also complimented me saying I was doing well with everything, so I am so glad she doesn’t regret picking me. She once told me she usually has to choose between 30 girls every year for her au pair, but with me, I contacted her first and was the only person she ever talked to because she said I was exactly what she was looking for so score!

Anyway… going to Paris tomorrow for orientation for school. Hope to meet more au pairs, and I guess my teachers. I think I will see Jerome too, so tomorrow should be a good day. Then I will become au pair again and taxi everyone from school and cook haha.

Oh my life… at least for today I am content with everything.

(There are probably a lot of typos, sorry in advance—also this was not very short was it?)

OHH I failed to mention-- almost wrecked today . Those damn rules. My manual driving is pretty decent now if I do say so myself! But the rules no. I was driving straight on a road today and someone on a side road was turning left and he totally didn't stop for me, so I guess I was supposed to yield?? Who the hell knows. Luckily my intsy wintsy little car scraped by just in time.